Croatia national cricket team

Croatia
Croatia
ICC membership granted	2001
ICC member status	Affiliate member
ICC development region	Europe
World Cricket League division	n/a
Captain	John Vujnovich
Coach	Michael Grzinic
First recorded match	21.08.2000 v Finland at Seebarn, Austria
As of 09 October 2009

The Croatian cricket team is the team that represents the country of Croatia in international cricket matches. They became an ICC affiliate member in 2001. [1]

International Competition

Croatia have been a regular participant in the European Cricket Council's various tournaments, starting in 2000 with the ECC Representative Championships, the fourth tier of European competition. They finished as runners up to Norway in that tournament. They hosted the same tournament two years later, where they finished third behind Finland and Slovenia, but then won the 2004 tournament.

ECC Trophy / ICC Europe Championships

They also competed in the ECC Trophy in 2001, 2003 but failed to achieve results they were capable of and finished just off the bottom of the ladder on both occasions.

In 2004 ICC Europe reorganised its competition structure, creating four divisions - of which Croatia fell into Division 4. The team made a clean sweep of the ICC Europe Division 4 Championship held that year in Ljubljana, Slovenia, beating the hosts Slovenia, newcomers Bulgaria and old rivals in Switzerland, Luxembourg and Finland. Victory meant automatic promotion to Division 3.

The team's first appearance in the 9-team Division 3, held in Belgium in August 2005, was successful from the point of view that they managed to finish in 7th place and thereby avoid the two bottom two places which meant automatic relegation back to the lower division whence they came, as ICC Europe restructured its competitions again, this time creating 5 divisions of six nations each, European Championship. The team returned to Belgium in 2007 for another crack at Division 3. This time they were better prepared and organised, and despite a number of injuries went through the tournament undefeated after narrowly beating Spain (by 4 runs) in a thrilling final - to earn the right to play against Israel for a place in the dizzy heights of Division 2.

In another close finish the team beat Israel by 5 runs in Tel Aviv in November to earn a spot in Division 2, which was played in Guernsey in 2008. The step-up in standard of the higher division proved a little too much and the team left the island without a victory in the competition, and the prospect of another play-off match to avoid relegation back to Division 3.

Promotion / Relegation

Croatia narrowly defeated Israel by 5 runs in Tel Aviv in November 2007 in a play-off match for the sixth place in the European Division 2 Championship. This match shall be recorded in history as the first official international cricket match played in Israel since the formation of the modern Israeli state.

In October 2009 Croatia and Israel met again for a play-off match to decide who will fill the sixth spot in the ICC Europe Division 2 Championship to be played in 2010. Israel ran out comfortable winners in a rain-affected match played in Zagreb. Croatia now returns to ICC Europe Division 3, and will take part in the championship in 2011.

Twenty20

The Croatian Cricket Federation also sent a representative side (Croatia 'A') to take part in the 2008 Euro Twenty-20 tournament held by Carmel & District Cricket Club in North Wales. Croatia recorded victories over Slovakia and Carmel but lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners Estonia, to finish in fourth spot.

The Croatia 'A' team returned to Carmel in July 2009 for the second edition of the Euro Twenty-20 tournament. This time team beat Bulgaria but lost to the Isle of Alderney and Russia in the group stage to be relegated to the 'Plate' competition. Victories against Hungary in the semi-final and New Victoria CC in the Plate final gave the team its first silverware. Croatia A's Nikola Davidović was also named the bowler of the tournament.

Croatia 'A' played a friendly match against Ireland 'A' in Dublin on July 19, 2009. Ireland ran out comfortable winners by 133 runs.

MCC Tour of August 2009

The MCC toured Croatia from the 2nd of August until the 7th of August, the first match commencing on the 3rd of August between a Croatian Development XI and the MCC (Limited Overs), the match was a 75 run win to the visitors (MCC 8/280 v Croatia 5/205), a notable performance by C.Sinovich scoring 116 with the bat and taking 1 for 53 off 7 overs. The second match, on the 4th of August, was between the MCC and Croatian Presidents XI (Twenty20), the result was a dismal performance by the Croatian team, losing the match by 127 runs (MCC 2/264 v Croatia 5/137), R Turner top scoring for the visitors with 179, putting together a partnership with M.Marvell of 251 for the second wicket. For the forth match of the series (played on the 5th of August), the MCC played a Croatian national team (Limited Overs) who made 9/187 off their allotted overs, but losing by 6 wickets, MCC reaching 4/188 off 27.3 overs. C.Wear top scoring for the locals with 62 (second highest for the match behind T.Hicks with 84). The fifth and final game was played on the 6th of August, with a Sir William Hoste XI playing the visitors (twenty20 format). With the hosts being held to 7/81 off their allotted overs, an easy win to the MCC making 2/82 with 10.3 overs remaining. All matches being played in Vis on an artificial surface.